Wandering Around London

I'm not much of a planner when it comes to travel and my London trip was no exception. I enjoyed just hanging out, going for runs around the city, trying really nice restaurants and hitting the sites I was most interested in. It almost felt like I was home in New York, but on a much more relaxed pace.

A few of my favorite highlights included:
- Running around and hanging out in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
- Touring the Imperial War Museum and the Tate Modern Museum.
- Trying some really great restaurants including Ginger (Indian Food), Ilba (Italian Food), Food for Thought (Vegetarian), Havelock Pub (English), and others.
- Enjoying the many parks and gardens in London, which is surprisingly green and full of people hanging out.

Wherever I went I tried to stop in a pub or a cafe and soak in the local flavor. The weather was surprisingly nice (it drizzled only once and I even got a sunburn one of the days) and not having any set plan made it easy to enjoy myself and relax.

Quick Tips:

Some suggestions are pretty standard for England (i.e. be prepared for changing weather, have an umbrella handy, bring an adapter for electrical devices). But a few other quick suggestions will save you some hassle.

Don't worry about checking your email from your hotel. Go to an Internet cafe and pay a small fraction of what you will pay in access fees from your hotel room. In particular, try an Easy Everything Internet Cafe if you are in the vicinity. You will find hundreds of computers and it costs only 3 pounds for 24 hours of unlimited access.

Don't even attempt to see every monument, historical site or museum. London is bursting with sites and you will drive yourself crazy if you try to see everything. Go through a guidebook, pick a few sites according to your taste and appreciate the quick glimpse of all of the other monuments and sites you pass.

Best Way To Get Around:

You have several options for getting into London from Heathrow. The preferred option is to take the Heathrow Express (the train). It costs 12 pounds and takes 15 minutes...the cars are clean and even have a tv to keep you occupied. You can also take the underground train (the Tube) for around 5 pounds, but it takes about 45-60 minutes and isn't quite as nice...plus it has several stops along the way. Or you may choose to take the bus. It costs only 8 pounds, and gives you a chance to see the route into the city. But the traffic can be frustrating and some of the route isn't exactly scenic. Finally, you can take a taxi for a mere 35-40 pounds, but with the other options it would be a big waste of time and money.

When getting around London, don't be afraid to take the Tube. It is easy to navigate, and is clean and safe. Plus you can get anywhere you need to go. Of course, if you are in a hurry, taxis are very easy to catch...but they can get really expensive if this is your main mode of transportation.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect place to stay. The Kensington House is a converted townhouse (two actually) that is full of character and charm. It is in a beautiful neighborhood and is only a block away from Kensington Gardens. I felt like I had walked into my 'home' in London. My room was very cozy and comfortable. The staff was superb and friendly. The complimentary breakfast was excellent. And I was only a block away from the park on a beautiful spring weekend. What more could you ask for?

The hotel is walking distance from Kensington High Street, Harrod's, Notting Hill and of course Kensington Gardens. It is only a couple of miles from Buckingham Palace and I ended up running from the hotel to all the major sites. I never felt like I was in the middle of a tourist horde, yet I was conveniently close to everything I wanted to see.

I will definitely stay here again and I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a romantic, unique hotel that represents some of the best of London.

K-West is in a quiet residential neighborhood called Shepard's Bush. It is a little bit out of the way, but this contributes to its charm. The hotel has undergone a complete renovation and all of the effort has definitely paid off. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here and would heartily recommend this hotel to anyone.

K-West is a very stylish hotel (without being too trendy). The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. The rooms are very comfortable and spacious. And the spa and other amenities help set this hotel apart. I also liked that the hotel didn't try and nickel and dime you (free internet access is provided and spa access is free).

Every morning, I got in a nice workout and stint in the spa, followed by a nice breakfast in the hotel's restaurant. At the end of the day, I gladly sunk into one of the most comfortable beds I have experienced in a long time.

Don't forget to check out a few spots in Shepard's Bush and nearby Hammersmith. There are several great pubs and restaurants (i.e. Havelock Tavern) in walking distance of the hotel.

The Sanderson is great if you are looking for a bit of a trendy scene, and a younger, hipper crowd. At times I thought it was a little over the top, but I definitely appreciated the sense of style and the effort put into creating a really unique hotel experience.

There are two bars (one for hotel guests only and the main bar for anyone). The main bar definitely attracts a nice crowd (and everyone seemed to be dressed to hit the town). But I really liked the 'guest only' bar for the end of the evening. It was smaller and more intimate and easier to get a drink.

As for the rooms, I was very pleasantly surprised. Almost everything is white and minimal is the theme. My room had sheer curtains separating the main section of the room from the bathroom area (the shower and toilet did have a door) and it was pretty sexy walking around. This is a great place for a special evening with someone you are trying to impress.

I also liked the fact that the hotel had an awesome gym / spa. I only used the gym facilities but will try the spa the next time I go. It has an excellent reputation and my friends all wondered if I had gotten a chance to try it out.

Be prepared when you go to this motel. The night scene kicks in and there is a premium on pretty people. It inspired me to go out and I can't imagine just sitting in your room if you stay here.

You pay a premium for staying here, but all in all I would strongly recommend it. By the way, if you are choosing between the Sanderson and the St. Martin's Lane (the other Ian Schrager hotel in London), I definitely prefer the Sanderson.

I had a very pleasant stay at the Victoria Park Plaza. The hotel had some very nice touches, the service was exceptional, and the room was fairly large and comfortable. It wasn’t the coolest hotel in London (although it selectively tried to have a higher sense of style), but it provided pretty good value for the money. My impression was that it was a very good choice for business travelers who wanted a little more than a generic hotel room.

Regarding the room, it had plenty of space and everything I needed. I particularly liked the bathroom, which had a frosted glass door, a neat tub, and a stylish glass counter and sink. The main sleeping area was fairly minimal, but certainly tastefully done. The bed was a little soft, but I had no problem sleeping. There was a high-speed (or dialup) Internet connection. The pricing for the Internet connection was fair (2.99 pounds for an hour of dialup; 10.99 for 24-hour dialup; 12.99 for 24-hour high-speed). There were electrical connections for every type of plug (i.e., U.S., European Union, England), which is nice if you don’t have an adapter. And the television had plenty of options in terms of channels, including access to six pay-per-view movies for only 10.95 pounds for 24 hours.

I was also impressed with the customer service and other services at the hotel. For example, I called the concierge to get an Ethernet cable for my Internet connection. The cable was delivered to my room in less than five minutes. I also got good recommendations for places to eat, help with taxi arrangements and excellent service at the bar. The bar was located next to the lobby and you could get a drink in a comfortable atmosphere until late into the night. Finally, the hotel had a nice workout facility. There were weight machines, free weights and exercise equipment. There was also a nice sauna and steam room. As far as hotel fitness centers go, this one ranked very high.

All said, I recommend this hotel. It is particularly nice for the business traveler who wants all of the services you need while on the road and a little bit of style.

If there were a prize for London’s smallest hotel room, then the Hyde Park Paddington Hotel would win hands down. I was actually shocked when I walked into the room (sideways so that I could get between the bed and the desk) and saw how little space there was. The bathroom was equally small, and the shower was like a rectangular box that was difficult to move around in.

This was particularly surprising because I had read the information on the hotel’s website which talked about a charming boutique hotel. The outside of the hotel is in fact charming. It is in an attractive row of buildings that has a bit of character. The lobby is also relatively attractive, and little things like free apples and a nice staff are a good touch. But as I walked through the hall to my room, I noticed a few little things that I wasn’t overly crazy about (i.e., worn carpets, temporary room numbers on some of the doors, and lots of marks on the walls). Also, there was no elevator, so I had to carry a very heavy suitcase down a winding set of stairs to get to my room. That is when I discovered the space issue in room 019.

Once I got settled in, I took note of other things in the room. One, the high-speed Internet access was not available (broken, and the hotel did not have an Ethernet cable even if it had been working). Two, a large white fan was the first piece of room furniture I came across. It was nice to have the fan, but it took up quite a bit of the limited space. Three, the rooms were very noisy in the mornings (from people going in and out of their rooms and the maid closet). Finally, the pillows (on the otherwise comfortable bed) were not particularly comfortable.

The most positive thing I can say about this hotel is that I liked the location. It is about three blocks from Paddington Station (which makes it easy to get to and from Heathrow Airport), only a five-minute walk from Hyde Park (a place I like to run), and near Notting Hill (i.e., Portobello Road).

All said, it is difficult to recommend this hotel for the price I paid. But I must admit that when 5am rolled around on the morning I had to catch a 6:30am flight out of Heathrow, I was very glad to be staying at the Hyde Park Paddington. It literally took me two minutes to walk over to the Heathrow Express out of Paddington Station. Total time from room to Austrian Airlines ticket counter was 35 minutes.

The Kingsway Hall Hotel is a very nice hotel in every way. Particularly if you are looking for something on the traditional side (i.e., wood paneling, conservative décor, traditional paintings, etc.) that provides excellent quality, you will like this hotel. And the staff is very helpful and friendly.

The rooms have plenty of space and are well adorned. Nothing is worn or outdated and you feel like you are staying in a nice hotel. The bed is very comfortable and there is plenty of space to spread out and settle in. I also liked that the room had everything I needed. For instance, there was an iron and ironing board built into the closet. I had high-speed Internet access, a nice television, access to the latest movies, a desk to work on, and a place to organize all of my clothes. The bathroom was also comfortable (plenty of space) and had nice soap items.

The bar in the hotel was open late and was a nice place to hang out. I particularly liked that you could get free wireless Internet access in the bar area. It was nice to be able to get some work done over a drink.

There is a limited fitness center. It has mostly exercise equipment (i.e., treadmills, rowing machine and bicycles, but no free weights or weight machines), and there is a large hot tub. I have seen nicer fitness centers, but it was more than adequate for a hotel.

Don’t hesitate to order room service or to eat in the restaurant at the hotel. The food is excellent. Also, you are in a great neighborhood for restaurants, so finding a place to eat is no big deal. I liked the restaurant across the street and highly recommend the pizzas.

Finally, the location of the hotel is fantastic. You are walking distance from the Strand (high-end shopping and restaurants), Covent Garden (funkier shopping and cafes), and SOHO (a bit more eclectic and lots of places to go out).

All said, I definitely recommend this hotel. It is not the cheapest choice, but you get a quality place to stay in one of my favorite parts of town.

I always try to find a nice Indian restaurant when I go to London and Ginger did not disappoint. The dishes are very authentic and everything I tried was wonderful. I had the maach paturi - fillet of pomfret wrapped in a banana leaf - for an appetizer. Then I tried the kashimangsho bhuna - a spicy goat curry. Both dishes were very flavorful and as well done as any Indian restaurant I have eaten at. The service was exceptional and the waiter helped me settle on the choices I made...with so many great choices I needed the help. I finished off the meal with Indian rice pudding and a mango lassi. Great stuff!!

As for the atmosphere, it is heavy on turquoise for some reason, but not in a bad way. The restaurant was stylish and attracted a young, hip crowd that grew as the night went on. After dinner, you are in walking distance of several Notting Hill pubs if you want to continue the evening.

After two hours of good food and several bottles of Greek wine, I have nothing but good things to say about The Real Greek. The atmosphere is laid back and very nice for good conversation amongst friends. The staff is pretty friendly and helpful and always handy with a good recommendation.

We ate in the more formal dining room (although formal is too strong a word)...you can also eat in the cafe/bar area.

I'm not as familiar with Greek food as with other types of cuisine, but I didn't have any trouble picking a great meal...although my choices are a bit blurry given all the wine we drank. I do remember having a wonderful grilled squid entree, much to the derision of my table mates. Their food was very nice (including the vegetarian option), but I enjoyed my choice.

All said, this is a great choice for dinner with friends particularly if you are looking for something different than curry or continental.

Unbelievably this is a relatively new site in London. It was over three hundred years before The Globe was resurrected in the 1990s. Even more astounding, it was the efforts of an American actor that made the construction possible (it took over 50 years of planning, lobbying and research to get it done).

The Globe has been meticulously rebuilt in as authentic a manner as possible. The building materials and the architecture of the theatre (including the only thatched roof in London) are as true to the time of Shakespeare as is possible given modern building codes and a lack of definitive information on the theatre. You can take a tour for about 12 pounds and learn about the secrets of the construction of the theatre as well as the workings of a typical Shakespeare play...including an explanation of the symbolism on the stage and the general mechanics of the productions. Plays are still performed from May to September (Shakespeare plays of course).

The Tate Modern is right next door and is a nice way to round out a trip to this side of the river.

At best, I have a casual appreciation of art museums. I usually get dragged there by my girlfriend and end up enjoying the visit. But in the case of the Tate Modern, I had read a lot about it and wanted to check it out for myself.

Everyone has an opinion about the outside of the building. My opinion...it is a pretty ugly structure that represents all of the worst of modernism...function over form, boxy, etc. But what do you expect from a converted factory. It seems people either love the building or hate it. But don't let that influence you one way or another. The art is the real draw...and the view across the Thames isn't half bad either.

I am a little jaded because MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) in New York is my frame of reference, but I still found the exhibits to be very interesting and well rounded. I will never understand some modern art, but I was amused, bemused, bewildered, enlightened and even a bit put off by different pieces...all-in-all the desired reaction when viewing a wide range of modern art.

There are five floors of exhibits and you can spend hours if you read up on all of the pieces of art. If you want to hear from the artists, rent a set of headphones and get a 'guided' tour. The special exhibit at the time I was there was Andy Warhol. Not my favorite artist, but an interesting exhibit nonetheless.

Admission to the museum is free (except you must pay extra for the special exhibit - Andy Warhol in this case). It gets a little crowded on the weekends, but the space is so massive you don't really notice.

Take the time to enjoy the view of the city from the upper floors of the museum and stop by the Globe Theatre next door before leaving the area.

This is London's version of New York's Central Park. It is a massive park (7 miles around) with numerous gardens, monuments, lakes, paths and everything else you would expect in a beautiful park. Plus, you can visit Kensington Palace for some insight into Royal living.

My favorite sites included the Albert Memorial (see below), the Serpentine (the large lake), the Italian fountains, and the Garden walk. Every direction you turn you will find something interesting or historical. You will also find gardens galore with a surprisingly beautiful selection of flowers. Finally, you will see people relaxing, rollerblading, kissing, talking and generally just having a good time.

Take your time and walk around the park. End up in the Southeast corner and walk through Wellington's Arch into Green Park (next to Buckingham Palace) if you want even more gardens and park space.

As a former Army officer, I am always interested in learning about military history. I figured that the Imperial War Museum would provide a compelling and informative accounting of WWI and WWII...and I was not disappointed. The Imperial War Museum actually details all of the conflicts the British have participated in since the beginning of the 1900s. The WWI and WWII displays were particularly compelling and I spent several hours walking through the displays and film rooms. There were also some special displays (i.e. the Trench Experience from WWI and the Blitz Experience from WWII) that were very well done. If you don't come out of this museum feeling a little more patriotic or touched in some way, then you weren't paying attention. The Holocaust floor was also very moving and was even more compelling set against the events of WWII on the lower floors. Uniforms, planes, vehicles, armaments, ammunition, propaganda, personal items and accounts, and everything else you can imagine are used to illustrate the history of British warfare...and the human toll and sacrifice of millions of people.

Regarding location, this museum is a bit removed from other attractions. The neighborhood is a bit rougher than on the other side of the Thames, but it is worth the effort. It also sets you up to see the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe (which are also on this side of the river).

Admission is free.